Some are calling for the BC Gold cards used in British Columbia’s casinos to contain software that will give gamblers an early warning before their spending gets out of control, according to CTV.

Currently the smart card functions only as a kind of loyalty card, with players able to receive $1 for every $200 they gamble or receive other prizes.

The British Columbia Lottery Commission reports that there are 491,827 cards in circulation, garnering $29.1 million worth of rewards for gamblers per annum.

But gambling experts say the cards are capable of being used for much more – namely a warning system that will save “problem gamblers” from spending too much.

According to CTV, BCLC and gambling minister Rich Coleman have both agreed to review new protection measures for problem gamblers, which may include leveraging BC Gold cards.

Experts hope that with added protection the cards could provide a security system parallel to one being piloted in Nova Scotia, which also uses smart cards to control the amount of time and money each gambler spends.